Forwarding mechanism for portable autographic registers



Oct. 24, 1950 L. F. PLUMMER ET AL 2,526,967

FOWARDING MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS Filed Jan. 7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS L L0 71/ E PL LIN/WEE Oct. 24, 1950 F. PLUMMER ET AL FOWARDING MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1948 e ,g R 5 a n mg W E p5 fl Z W Oct. 24, 1950 F. PLUMMER ET AL 2,526,967

FOWARDING MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS Filed Jan. '7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 1 L070 F P1. wwvae W/LLHED 5. WEEK/4L Patented (Jet. 24, 1950 FORWARDING MECHANISM FOR PORTABLE AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTERS Lloyd F. Plummer and Willard B. Merrill, Dover, N. H., assignors to Moore Business Forms, Inc., Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 7, 1948, Serial No. .850

This invention relates to improvement in autographic registers, and more particularly to an improved strip forwarding mechanism of the type having reciprocating forwarding pins engageable in strip apertures arranged in one or more longitudinal series in record'strips of the long continuous type that aremoved forwardly from a supply source into inscription position upon the register platen, a transfer strip being interleaved between respective adjacent record strips for transferring the inscriptions to the underlying record strips. After the record strips have thus been started or advanced a short distance they are grasped and pulled out manually to bring the next successive set of record form lengths into writing position upon'the platen. Difliculty has 16 Claims. (Cl. 28218) been experienced in positioning the strip forwarding mechanism, and particularly the operating crank handle therefor, so as to avoid obstruction to the threading of the transfer strips in transfer relationwith the record strips on the platen, or in adjusting the same after they have been placed in inscribing position.

It is therefore-a general object of the invention to provide an improved strip forwarding mechanism in which the operating crank handle is mounted in an improved manner so that it can be easily manually adjusted to non-obstructing position with referenceto the transfer strips, and the positioning and threading thereof into operative transfer relation on the writing platen, without at the same time effectingany actuation of the strip forwarding mechanism or other 0perative elements of the register.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting of the operating crank handle on the operating shaft of the strip forwarding mechanism whereby the operative connection of the handle with the shaft can be disconnected and re-established by sliding the ham dle longitudinally on the operating shaft, means being thus provided to permit the handle to be manually adjusted independently of the shaft to non-obstructing position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby the operating crank handle is held in non-obstructing position after it has been manually adjusted into such position, and is automatically returned to its operative position and connected with the operating shaft by moving the register cover into its closed position.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention, and-will" be in part obvious as the disclosureproceeds.

For a -more comprehensive disclosure'of the nature, objects ;and ,advantagesiof the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description, and to' the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a portable autographicregister embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of the register takensubstantially on the longitudinal center line;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the forward end .portion of the register, the coverbeing removed and parts being broken away and in section;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the forward end Fig. 10 is a plan 'view'on a reduced scale of a portion of a record'strip such as used in the autographic register.

';This;,-invention relates to improvements of the strip forwarding mechanism described and claimed in prior application of Louis F. Hageman and Charles, J Manuel, Serial No. 683,510, filed July 13, 1946.

Referring torthe drawing for adetailed description ofxthezillustrative embodiment of the inventionthereshown, theimproved strip forwarding mechanism is embodied in an autographicr-egistenof the, portable typethat can be conveniently held in the hand of the user during entry of inscription on the record strips. register has a casing for the operating elements including a lower-casing section and an upper casing section or cover The lower casing section has a bottom 3land side wall 4. A horizontal division plates? is-connected to longitudi- The nal frame members or Z-bars 6, forming a lower compartment in which a longitudinally slidable drawer is mounted for receiving inscribed record leaves, and may be projected from the forward end of the register under the influence of a stressed spring 8.

Positioned upon the division plate 5 and appropriately connected thereto is a platen section having side walls 9 and a fiat platen I spaced above the division plate to form a storage compartment for a supply pack S of zig-zag folded record strips S. The record strips are of the long continuous traveler type appropriately provided with printed blank forms arranged in a series there-along, and provided at form length intervals with transverse weakened severance lines or perforated lines S along which the strip may be severed into form length sheets. The

record strips S are also provided with longitudi-' nally spaced apertures S two series of such apertures being shown. These apertures cooperate with strip forwarding and aligning pins as well known in the art. As many of the record strips S as desired are interleaved and folded together in the supply pack S, and are led forwardly over appropriate guides into writing position in which they are supported upon the upper surface of the flat platen l0.

Transfer strips such as long sheets of carbon paper C are led forwardly from an appropriate supply roll C and interleaved in transfer relation between the respective adjacent record strips S over the writing surface of the platen so as to transfer to the underlying record strips the inscriptions made upon the top or original record strip. At the opposite edge of the platen from the carbon supply C is a clamping bar I pivotally supported at its forward end for engagement with the ends of the carbon strips opposite to the supply roll C to hold the carbons in their transfer position upon the platen. When fresh carbon is needed the carbon strips C arepulled forwardly across the platen from the supply roll and clamped under the clamping bar I, and the depleted portions of the strips are torn off.

The cover 2 is pivotally hinged at l'2 to the lower part of the casing and provided at its forward end with an exit opening l3 through which the inscribed record strips emerge, and with a writing opening H: in the top plate l5, abovethe writing surface of the platen I0 throug'h'which inscriptions are entered upon the record strips by means of a pencil or other appropriate writing instrument. The side walls l6 of the cover are spaced outwardly from the walls 9 of the platen section so as to mate with the side walls 4 of the lower casing section and to form compartments for housing the carbon supply 0 on one side of the register and for housing parts of the forwarding mechanism at the other side.

Strip forwarding and aligning pins H are retractably mounted upon a swinging supporting carriage |8 being yieldingly urged into projected operating position by coil compression springs L9 as fully described in the co-pending application above referred to. It will be understood, however, that in so far as the present invention is concerned, some other known form of strip forwarding mechanism may be substituted for that disclosed. The pin sup-porting carriage is pivotally supported for forward and rearward swinging movements by means of depending supporting plates or brackets 20 which are pivotally supported upon the main transverse operating shaft 2|. This main operating shaft 2| is positioned near the forward end of the register adjacent to the forward end of the platen l0, and is supported for rotary rocking movement in bearings 22 carried by supporting brackets 23. The operating rock shaft 2| is connected to the supporting carriage l8 by means of a crank arm 24 anchored on the shaft and extending through an elongated slot 25 in the carriage. This carriage is urged to its retracted normal position by means of a coil spring 26 supported upon the shaft 2|, and is retained in its operative position shown in Fig. 2 by the stationary frame plate 21. The end portion of the crank arm 24 engages a pivoted latch 28 to disconnect it from its latching engagement with the plate 2! during the initial movement of the crank arm in the slot 25. Upon further movement to the left in Fig. 2 the crank arm will engage the end of the slot 25 and swing the carriage l8 forwardly together with the pins IT. This forward movement of the pins which are engaged in the apertures S of the record strips will start said strips forwardly so that the forward ends will project at the exit opening l3 whereupon the strips may be grasped and pulled forwardly. The strips are thus pulled forwardly for the distance of a single form length whereupon the pins l'l will enter the next successive apertures S to check the strips and to align the next successive forms in writing position upon the platen.

An operating crank handle 29 for the operating shaft 2| is connected to the outer end or extension of said shaft for operating the same to swing the pin carriage |8 forwardly during the initial forwarding of the strips as above described. It will be noted that the crank handle 29, in its normal operative position as shown in Figs. 4 and A 5, is positioned adjacent to the forward end of the platen It] so as to-obstruct the positioning or adjustment of the carbon strips in their operative position upon the platen. Also due to lack of space, the operating shaft and crank handle cannot be positioned further toward the front of the register to get them out of this obstructing r position. Therefore an improved operating coupling or connection between the crank handle and operating shaft has been devised to permit the handle to be moved outwardly and forwardly to non-obstructing position without at the same time moving the shaft 2|.

This improved connection, best shown in detail in Figs. '7, 8 and 9, will now be described. The lower extremity of the crank handle is formed with an enlarged hub 30 formed at its inner side P with a depressed circular seat 3| in which is received a substantially circular connecting collar 32 firmly attached to the end portion of the operating shaft 2| by forcing it with a tight fit upon the ribbed or serrated portion 33 of the shaft.

Projecting from the periphery of the connecting collar 32 is a radially disposed driving lug 34 which is adapted to be received in a recess 35 forming a radial extension'of the depressed seat 3|. At the bottom of the depressed seat 3| is a circular aperture 36 in which the extending end portion 2| of the shaft 2| is rotably and slidably received. This aperture 36 is formed in an outer extension 3'! of the hub 33 and forms a bearing for supporting the crank handle both for rotation and for longitudinal sliding movements on the shaft extension 2|. This bearing supports the crank handle in both its inner operative position and in its outer idle position in which it is freely rotatable on the bearing into its non-obstructing idle position as later more fully described. The extension 31 may be knurled to provide a handle or knob by means of which the crank handle may be operated to adjustit as later described.

- When the connecting collar 32 is seated within the depressed seat 3| of the crank handle the driving lug 34 of the collar is closely received within the driving recess 35 of the handle thus forming a driving coupling by which the rotary movements of the handle are transmitted to the operating rock shaft 2!. The lug 34 and recess 35 are relatively sized and proportioned to form inter-engaging formations locking the handleto the operating shaft so as to prevent relative rotation. When the handle 29 is slid outwardly on its sliding bearing on the shaft extension 2!, these inter-engaging lug formations are disengaged from each other so that the handle may then rotate freely with reference to the shaft as later more fully described. A stop lug 38 is positioned on the inner surface of the crank arm 29 adjacent to the radial recess 35 so as to check the driving lug in alignment with the recess 35 when the coupling parts are being adjusted into re-engaging position.

' For holding the crank handle 26 in its operaoutwardly on its sliding bearing on the operating shaft extension 2| against the resistance of this spring.

For limiting the swinging opening movements of the cover 2 on its pivot I2, a link 49 is pivotall connected at its inner end at E! to one of the supporting brackets 23 of the casing,. this being the pivotal connection also for the clamping bar II for the carbon strips. This limiting link is connected at its opposite extremity to the cover 2 by a pin and slot connection 42. The pin mounted on the cover section slides in the elongated slot so as to limit the cover in its fully open position as shown in Fig. 5. The pin slides in the slot and the link swings upon the pivot 4i when the cover is moved to closed position.

Attached to the outer side of the swinging cover link 40 and spaced outwardly a short distance therefrom is an operating member or plate for a purpose later fully described.

In the operation of the improved strip forwarding mechanism, the operating handle 29, when occupying its normal connected position to the operating shaft 2i as seen in Fig. 3, and extending upwardly through the opening 44 in the cover section 2 of the casing, is engaged by the operator and swung forwardly thus transmitting rotary movement to the operating shaft through the driving coupling by which the handle is connected to the shaft. This forward rotation of the operating shaft swings the crank arm 24 forwardl in the slot 25 in the pin supporting carriage I8 thus initiall releasing the latch 28 and freeing the carriage to forward swinging movement. When the latch is thus released the crank arm engages the forward end of the elongated slot-25 thus swinging the supporting carriage resistance of the leaf spring 39 thus releasing the forwardly on its pivotal mounting in opposition to the resistance of the spring 26. This swinging movement of the carriage also swings the forwarding and aligning pins ll engaging in the strip apertures S thus causing the record strips S to be moved forwardly a short distance. Pressure upon the crank handle is then released whereupon the supporting carriage i8 is returned to its normal position by action of the spring 2-6, and at the same time the pins ll are withdrawn from strip apertures. turn movement the pins ll engage with the under side of the forward ends of the record strips causing said pins to be retracted slightly against the resistance of the springs H9. The forward ends of the record strips are then grasped and pulled forwardly until the next successive strip apertures S come into alignment with the pins which are then projected through the apertures by the springs l9 thus checking the strips and aligning the next successive blank forms for transfer inscription upon the writing platen. The forwardly adjusted inscribed portions of the record strips are then severed along the weakened severance lines S "When itbecomes necessary to adjust the carbon strips C upon the platen or to move fresh lengths thereof into inscribing position, the crank handle 29 must be moved forwardly from its operative position as shown in Fig. 5 to its inoperative non-obstructing position as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In this inoperative position it will be seen that the crank handle has been moved forwardly and outwardly so as to permit unobstructed adjustments or manipulation of the carbon strips on the writing platen, and to clamp them in their transfer positions by means of the clamping bar ll. This adjustment of the crank handle must of course be effected without cans To coupling by freeing the inter-engaged lug formations 34 and 3 5 from engagement with each other. In this disengaged position as shown in 7, the, handle 29 is rotated forwardly idly on its rotary bearing with reference to the operating shaft 21 to the non-obstructing position shown in Figs. 6 anol'9. The handle is retained in this position temporarily against the pressure of the spring 39 by engagement of the driving lug 34 of the connecting collar 32 against the innersur face of the hub 35 which is just outside ofthe outer edge of the depressed seat 3| as clearly seen in Fig. 9. Thus it will be seen that the, cr nkhandle is retained temporarily in this idle] non-obstructing position during adjustments of, the carbon and'record strips upon the platen. Of course it will be understood that the cover 2 must be raised substantially to the position shown in Fig. 6 in order to make these adjustments IBy' reference to Fig. '7 it will be seen that the handle 29 in its idle non-obstructing position, is

outwardly positioned or slid upon the shaft 2| to bring it into alignment with the operating plate 43 of the cover link at. Consequently when the cover is being closed from its open position as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the operating plate 43 of the cover link 40 will come into engagement with the handle to rotate it idly upon the shaft 2| in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. This rotation of the crank handle brings the con- During the renecting recess 35 thereof into alignment with the driving lug 34 of the connecting collar 32. When these two connecting parts reach alignment with each other further relative rotation thereof is checked by engagement of the driving lug 34 against the limiting lug 38 whereupon the crank handle is moved to its operative connected position by action of the spring 39. Thus the handle is slid inwardly upon its sliding bearing with the shaft extension 2| causing the lug 34 to be engaged in the seat or recess 35. The handle is then in its normal operative position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

If a longitudinally sliding record drawer I is employed, a swinging latch 45 is employed to hold the drawer in its closed or retracted position in opposition to the spring 8. This latch as shown may be mounted for swinging movement upon the operating shaft 2| and urged into latching position by means of a stressed coil spring 46 causing the inner end of the latch to engage in a latching notch 41 in a flange at the upper margin of the drawer as shown in Fig. 6. The opposite part or tail 45' of the latch is positioned to be engaged by an adjustable lug or screw 48 threaded into an aperture in a part of the crank handle 29. When the crank handle occupies its normal operative position and is swung forwardly to actuate the forwarding mechanism, the lug 48 engages the latch 45 thus releasing the drawer which is automatically projected into open position by action of the spring 8. When the crank handle is slid outwardly to its idle position shown in Fig. '7, the lug 48 is positioned out of alignment with the latch tail 45 and the latch will not be released by the idle swinging movement of the handle to its nonobstructing position.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having thus been fully described, the following is claimed:

1. In an autographic register, in combination, a platen for supporting record and transfer strips for transfer inscription, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft extending transversely of the platen, an operating crank handle for said shaft positioned laterally adjacent to the platen and mounted on said shaft for inward and outward reciprocating movements longitudinally thereof to and from idle and operative positions, said crank handle extending upwardly adjacent to a transfer strip supported on the platen, bearing means supporting said crank handle on said operating shaft in both the inward operative position of said handle and the outward position thereof in which it is freely rotatable on its bearing on said shaft, and driving connections between said shaft and handle releasable into idle position by said relative movements of the handle and shaft so as to provide for relative forward idle movement of said handle with reference to said shaft away from its normal operative position and into non-obstructing position with reference to transfer strips being positioned on said platen.

2. In an autographic register, in combination, a platen for supporting record and transfer strips for transfer inscription, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft extending transversely of the platen, an operating crank handle for said shaft positioned laterally adjacent to the platen and mounted on said shaft for reciprocating movements longitudinally thereof to and from idle and operative positions, driving connections between said shaft and handle releasable into idle position by said relative movements of the handle and shaft so as to provide for relative forward idle movement of said handle with reference to said shaft away from its normal operative position and into non-obstructing position with reference to transfer strips being positioned on said platen, a cover for the register mounted for opening and closing movements, and means automatically operated by closing movements of said cover for returning said handle to its normal operative position.

3. In an autographic register having means for holding a transfer sheet or strip in operative position, the combination of a platen for supporting record and transfer strips for transfer inscription, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft extending transversely of the platen, an operating crank handle for said shaft positioned laterally adjacent to the platen and mounted on said shaft for reciprocating movements longitudinally thereof to and from idle and operative positions, driving connections between said shaft and handle releasable into idle position by said relative movements of the handle and shaft so as to provide for relative idle movement of said handle with reference to said shaft away from its normal operative position and into nonobstructing position with reference to said transfer slip supporting means and to transfer strips being positioned on said platen, a cover for the register pivotally mounted adjacent to the forward end of the register for opening and closing movements, said cover having an opening through which said operating handle projects, and means automatically operated by closing movements of said cover for returning said handle to its normal operative position.

4. In an autographic register having means for holding a transfer sheet or strip in operative position, the combination of a platen for supporting record and transfer strips for transfer inscription, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft extending transversely of the platen, an operating crank handle for said shaft positioned laterally adjacent to the platen, said crank handle having a sliding bearing connection with said shaft by which the handle is supported on said shaft for free rotation thereon into idle position and also slidably supported for movements longitudinally of said shaft to and from said idle position and into and from operative position, and driving connections between said shaft and handle releasable by said sliding movements of the handle on the shaft so as to provide for relative'idle movement of said handle on the shaft away from its normal operative position into nonobstructing position with reference to said trans- I fer strip holding means.

asst-see tions, driving connections; between said shaft and handle releasable by said sliding movements of the handle on the shaft so as to provide for relative rotary idle movements of said handle on the shaft away from its normal operative position into non-obstructing position with refer-' ence to said transfer strip holding means, a spring connected to said crank iiandle and stressed to slide it on said sliding bearing connection and to maintain said driving connections in driving condition, said handle being slidable against resist-' ance' of said spring to disconnect said driving connections, and means for holding said handle in its disconnecting position against resistance of said spring when the handle is moved forwardly to its non-obstructing position.

6. In an autographic register having means for holding a transfer sheet or strip in operative position, the combination of a platen for supporting record and transfer strip for transfer inscription, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft extending transversely of the platen, an operating crank handle for said shaft positioned laterally adjacent to the platen, said crank handle having a rotary and sliding bearing connection with said shaft by which the handle is slidably supported for movements longitudinally of saidshaft to and from idle and operative positions, driving connections between said shaft and handle releasable by said sliding movements of the handle on the shaft so as to provide for relative rotary idle movements of said handle on the shaft away from its normal operative position into non-obstructing position with reference to said transfer strip holding means, a spring connected to said crank handle and stressed to slide it on said sliding bearing connection and to maintain said driving connections in driving condition, said handle being slidable against resistence of said spring to disconnect said driving connections, means for holding said handle in its disconnecting position against resistance of said spring when thehandle is moved forwardly to its non-obstructing position, a cover for the register mounted for opening and closing movements, and means automatically operated by closing movements of said cover for returning said handle to its normal operative position under the influence of said spring.

'7. In an autographic register having means for holding a transfer sheet or strip in operative position, the combination of a platen for supportingrecord and transfer strips for transfer inscription, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft extending transversely of the platen, an operating crank handle for said shaft positioned laterally adjacent to the platen, said crank handle having a sliding bearing connection with said shaft by which the handle is slidably supported for movements longitudinally of said shaft 60 to and from idle and operative positions, driving connections between said shaft and handle releasable by said sliding movements of the handle on the shaft so as to provide for relative idle movements of said handle on the shaft away from its normal operative position. into non-obstructing position with reference to said transfer strip holding means, a spring connected to said crank handle and stressed to slide it' on said sliding bearing connection and to maintain said driving connections in driving condition, said handle being slidable against resistance of said spring to disconnect said driving connections, means for holding said handle in its disconnecti-ng position against resistance of said spring when 10 the handle is moved forwardly to-its non-obstructing position, a cover for the register pivotally mounted adjacent to the forward end of the register' for opening arid closing movements, said cover having an opening through which said operating handle projects, and means automatically operated by closing movements of said cover for returning said handle to its normal operative position under the influence of said spring.

. 8. In an autographic register having means for holding atransfer sheet or strip inoperative position, the combination of a platen for supporting record and transfer strips for transfer inscription-,- strip feeding mechanismhaving'a rotary operatingshaft extending transversely of the platen, an operating crank handle for said shaft posi-" tioned" laterally adjacent to the platen, said handle having a depressed seat receiving a con necting collar secured on said shaft, inter-en gaging driving lugs on said connecting collar and on said handle engageable with each other when the collar is in said seat and disengageable when the' coll'ar is retracted from theseat, said handle having a rotary and sliding bearing connection I with said shaft by means of which the handle iss-l'idabl y mounted on the shaft'for reciprocating movement longitudinally thereof to inwardly disposed operative position inwhich said driving lugs are engagedin driving relation and into outwardly disposed idle position in which said lugs are disengaged and the handle is supported on said. shaft for free rotary movement so as to provide for relative idle movement of said handle on said shaft away-from its normal operative position into non-obstructing position with reference to said transfer strip holding means.

9; In an autographic register having means for holding a -transfer sheet or strip in operative position, the combination of a platen for supporting record and transfer strips for transfer inscription,

strip feeding-mechanismhaving a rotary operating shaft extendingtransversely of the platen, an operating crankhandle for said shaft positioned laterally adjacent to the platen, said handle havi'rig adepressed seat receiving a connecting collar secured on said shaft, inter-engaging driving lugs on said connecting collar and on said handle engage'a'ble with eachother when the collar is in said seat and disengageable when the collar is retracted from the seat, said handle having a rotary and sliding bearing connection with said shaft by" means of which the handle is slidably mounted on the shaft for reciprocating movefnent longitudinally thereof to operative position in which saiddriving lugs are engaged in driving relation and into idleposition in which said lugs are disengaged so as to provide for relative idle rotary movement of said handle on said shaft away from-its normal operative position into nonobstru'cting position with reference to said transfer stripholding means and to transfer strips being positioned on said platen, a spring connected to said crank handle and stressed to urge it on said sliding bearing connection'andto maintain said drive connection in driving condition, said-handle being slidable against resistance of of said spring to disconnect said driving connection's, and" means for holding said handle in its disconnecting position against resistance of said 0 spring when the handle is moved forwardly to its' noh obstructing position.

'10. In an autographic register having means for holding a transfer sheet or strip inoperative position, the combination of a" platen for sup porting record and transfer strips for transfer inscription, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft extending transversely of the platen, an operating crank handle for said shaft positioned laterally adjacent to the platen,

said handle having a depressed seat receiving a connecting collar secured on said shaft, interengaging driving lugs on said connecting collar and on said handle engageable with each other when the collar is in said seat and disengageable when the collar is retracted from the seat, said handle having a rotary and sliding bearing connection with said shaft by means of which the handle is slidably mounted on the shaft for reciprocating movement longitudinally thereof to operative position in which said driving lugs are engaged in driving relation and into idle position in which said lugs are disengaged so as to provide for relative rotary idle movement of said handle on said shaft away from its normal operative position into non-obstructing position with reference to said transfer strip holding means and to transfer strips being positioned on said platen, a cover for the register mounted for opening and closing movements, and means automatically operated by closing movements of said cover for returning said handle to its normal operative position. v

11. In an autographic register having means for holding a transfer sheet or strip in operative position, the combination of a platen for supporting record and transfer strips for transfer inscription, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft extending transversely of the platen, an operating crank handle for said shaft positoned laterally adjacent to the platen, said handle having a depressed seat receiving a connecting collar secured on said shaft, interengaging driving lugs on said connecting collar and on said handle engageable with each other when the collar is in said seat and disengageable when the collar is retracted from the seat, said handle having a rotary and sliding bearing connection with said shaft by means of which the handle is slidably mounted on the shaft for reciprocating movement longitudinally thereof to operative position in which said driving lugs are engaged in driving relation and into idle position in which said lugs are disengaged so as to provide for relative forward idle movement of said'handle on said shaft away from its normal operative position into non-obstructing position with reference to said transfer strip holding means and to transfer strips being positioned on said platen, a spring connected to said crank handle and stressed to slide it on said sliding bearing connection and to maintain said driving connections in driving condition, said handle being slidable against resistance of said spring to disconnect said driving connections, means for holding said handle in its disconnecting position against resistance of said spring when the handle is moved forwardly to its non-obstructing position, a cover for the register mounted for opening and closing movements, and means automatically operated by closing movements of said cover for returning said handle to its normal operative position under the influence of said spring.

12. In an autographic register, in combination, a platen for supporting record and transfer strips for transfer inscription, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft extending transversely of the platen, an operating crank handle for said shaft positioned laterally adjacent to the platen and mounted on said shaft for longitudinal sliding movements in opposite directions,

coupling connections between said shaft and said handle engageable in operative driving relation when said handle is slid on said shaft in one direction and disengaged when the handle is slid on said shaft in the opposite direction so as to free the handle to idle rotation with reference to the shaft so the handle can be idly moved to non-obstructive position, a spring for holding said driving connections in driving condition, means'for holding said handle in its idle position in opposition to said spring, and automatic means for returning said handle and coupling connections to normal operative condition after the handle has been moved to non-obstructing position.

13. In an autographic register, in combination, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft, an operating crank handle for said shaft, bearing connections supporting said handle on said shaft for sliding movements longitudinally on the shaft and for free rotation thereon, and coupling connections between said shaft and said crank handle engageable in connected driving relation with the shaft when said crank handle is slid in one direction on its said bearing connections and disconnected when slid in the opposite direction, whereupon said handle is supported by said bearing connections for free rotation independently of the shaft.

14. In an autographic register, in combination, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft, an operating crank handle for said shaft, bearing connections supporting said handle on said shaft for sliding movements longitudinally on the shaft and for free rotation thereon, coupling connections between said shaft and said crank handle engageable in connected driving relation with the shaft when said crank handle is slid in one direction on its said bearing connections and disconnected when slid in the opposite direction, whereupon said handle is supported by said bearing connections for free rotation independently of the shaft, resilient means urging said crank handle to slide it on said hearing connections to set said coupling connections in coupled condition, and holding means set in holding condition by said free rotation of said crank handle for holding the latter in its disconnected condition against the resistance of said resilient means.

15. In an autographic register, in combination, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft, an operating crank handle for said shaft, bearing means supporting said handle on said shaft for sliding movements longitudinally on the shaft and for free rotation thereon, coupling connections between said shaft and said crank handle engageable in connected driving relation with the shaft when said crank handle is slid in one direction on its said bearing means and disconnected when slid in the opposite direction, whereupon said handle is supported by said bearing means for free rotation independently of the shaft, a movably mounted cover for the register, and means automatically actuated by movement of said cover for setting said coupling connections in operative condition.

16. In an autographic register, in combination, strip feeding mechanism having a rotary operating shaft, an operating crank handle for said shaft, bearing means supporting said handle on said shaft for sliding movements longitudinally on the shaft and for free rotation thereon, coupling connections between said. shaft and said crank handle engageable in connected driving relation with the shaft when said crank handle is slid in one direction on its said bearing means and disconnected when slid in the opposite direction, whereupon said handle is supported by said bearing means for free rotation independently of the shaft, resilient means urging said crank handle to slide it on said bearing means to set said coupling connections in coupled condition, holding means set in holding condition by said free rotation of said crank handle for holding the latter in its disconnected condition against the resistance of said resilient means, a movably mounted cover for the register, and means automatically actuated by movement of said cover for releasing said holding means for re- REFERENCES CITED Therfollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,169,528 Cave Jan. 25, 1916 1,896,032 Sherman Jan. 31, 1933 2,242,012 Manuel et a1 May 13, 1941 

